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(No ModeL) 5Sheets-Sheet l. W. E. PACER.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

No. 442,026. Patented Dec; 2. 1890.

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REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

No. 442,026. Patent-ed Dec. 2, 1890.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

.W. ELT'AOER. REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

No. 442,026. Patented Dec. 2, 1890.

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W. E. PACER.

I REFRIGERATING APPARATUS. No. 442,026. Patented Dec. 2, 1890.

"m: norms FEYERS co. PNOTO-LITND., WAVSI-HNGTONI u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILSON E. FACER, OF CLEVELAND, OH IO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS,TO THE FACER REFRIGERATING AND ICE MACHINE COMPANY,

OF NEXV YORK, N. Y.

REFRIGERATI NG APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,026, dated December2, 1890. Application filed December 6, 1888. Serial No. 292,862. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it. known that I, l/VILSON E. FACER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleve,- land, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in RefrigeratingApparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to that class of refrig crating apparatus in whichanhydrous ammonia or other equivalent refrigerant in a liquid state isforced into the refrigeratingpipes, where it volatilizes and absorbs theheat in so doing, the gas being afterward reconverted into a liquidstate by mechanical compression and cooling without the employment ofthe commonly-used steps of collecting the gas in a liquid medium andthen distilling it out.

The parts of the apparatus herein shown and described relate to themechanism which draws the volatilized refrigerant from therefrigerating-pipes, and thus reduces the pressure therein according tothe continuity of its action, and thereby proportionately increases therapidity of the volatilization and consequently the refrigeratingeffects of said volatilization, and to the mechanism which compressesthe gas from the refrigerating-pipes, and thereby reduces it to a liquidand passes this liquid indirectly to the refrigeratingpipes, there to beagain volatilized to produce refrigeration.

It also relates to the mechanism which moves as the pressure in saidpipes varies and automatically controls the continuity of the action ofthe first-mentioned apparatus to the end of securing the proper rate ofvolatilization within said pipes for preserving an even temperaturewithin the chamber being cooled thereby.

The apparatus in its entirety is a contrivance designed to produce lowtemperature within a certain confined space by the continual use of thesame refrigerating medium-- that is to say, by the continuedvolatilization and liquefaction of a given quantity of the refrigeratingmedium and to act automatically to so govern the rate at which thesechanges in the condition of the medium occur that there shall bepreserved within said space a substantially even temperature during anindefinite period.

Referring to the drawings, which show the best embodiment of myinvention, Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a top plan View. Fig.3 'is a longitudinal Vertical sectional View. Fig. 4 is an endelevation, shown partly in section. Fig. 5 is a detached view of thedevices by which the operative connection between the pump-operatingmechanism and the power is made and broken as the press ure within therefrigerating pipes varies. Fig. 6 is a detached view of another form ofthe devices for this purpose. 7 Fig. 7 is a central sectional view ofthe oscillating shaft and its packing. Fig. 8 is a side elevationshowing the whole refrigerating system.

Referring by letter to the parts shown in the drawings, A represents thelower part of a casing, and A the upper part of the same. At the meetingedges of both the outwardlyprojecting horizontal flanges ac are formed,and the two parts AA are fastened together, with a packing of rubber orother suitable material between their meeting faces, by means of bolts,which pass through said flanges, thereby forming a chamber A into whichthe refrigerating medium is discharged from the refrigerating-pipes 0.Between this chamber A and the reservoir S is placed a gas-pun] p, bymeans of which the gas is pumped out of said chamber, condensed into aliquid form, and delivered into said reservoir S, from which it isdelivered in a liquid state into the refrigerating-pipes 0.

The specilic form, arrangement, and mode of operation of the pump shownin the drawings are as follows:

In the bottom of the casing A two circular openings are formed, and twocylinders B B are fastened to the casin gbelow said openings. Suitablepacking of rubber or other material is interposed between the cylindersand the casing, and said cylinders are secured in place by bolts, whichpass through the bottom of the casing and the flanges b b on thecylinders. These cylinders are supported on a stand Z, which rests in abox Y, containing cold water, which rises nearly to the top of thecylinders and which is being constantly changed. In the lower part A ofthe casing a shaft 0 is suitably journaled, only one end of whichextends through the side of said casing. The bearing for that end of theshaft which lies within the casing may be secured to the casing on theinside thereof, or it may be an integral part thereof; but forconvenience and to reduce the cost of the casing easting an opening ismade in the side of the casing, which is covered by a cylindricalflanged cap D, which, with suitable packing interposed, is bolted to thesaid casing, and the bearing for the shaft G is fashioned in said cap D.The other end of the shaft 0 extends through the casing and rests in asuitable bearing secured thereto. A flange or collar F is suitablysecured to or made integral with the casing and surrounds said shaft onthe inside thereof. In order that there shall be no escape of from thecasing around the shaft, a rubber sleeve E is placed around said shaft,and this sleeve is fastened at one end to the shaft and at the other endto the collar I by suitable clampsas, for example, the wires 6, asshown. As a further improvement upon this means for preventing theescape of gas, and particularly to preserve the rubber sleeve, I firstsurround the shaft 0 with a coiled-wire spring II, which is fastened atits ends, respectively, to the shaft 0 and the collar F. The rubbersleeve fits over this coiled wire and is fastened beyond the ends ofsaid coil to the shaft 0 and collar F, respectively, as described. Thisspring prevents the rubber sleeve from being forced by the pressure ofthe gas against the oscillating shaft 0, and at the same timedistributes evenly throughout said rubber sleeve the strain on therubber caused by the oscillations of the shaft, and thereby prolongs thelife and usefulness of the rubber sleeve. A walking-beam I is secured tothe shaft 0, and its ends are connected by suitable rods 1' 1' to thepistons J J of the pumps 13. The piston-rods j j are guided in theirmovements by passingthrough earsj'j on the casin g and move freelythrough the slotted ends of the walking-beam I. Outside the casing theshaft 0 is provided with a crank-arm L, which is connectedby a pitman 0to a wheel or crank 70, attached to the shaft K, whereby the revolutionof the shaft K gives to the shaft C an oscillating movement. The shaft Kis journaled on top of the casing A. Another shaft 10, similarlymounted, transmits motion to the shaft K through the gears 7t 7t. Theshaft 10 is caused to revolve by suitable connections with any sort ofpower-supplying device, and provision is made, as hereinafter explained,by which the revolution of the shaft K may be stopped or startedautomatically by the varying action of the pressure within therefrigerating-pipes. The pump-pistons and cylinders may be of anywell-known construc tion and are arranged to draw the gas from thechamber A and to discharge it through suitable valved ports into a pipeN, which is coiled about the machine within the box Y, where it issubmerged in the cold water, and finally connects with the reservoir orreceiver S. This reservoir is of a common type, having an outlet-pipe,which extends to near the bottom, from which the liquid refrigerant isforced by the pressure of gas in the upper part of the reservoir. Thegas which enters the pipe end is by compression and cooling reduced to aliquid state, and in this state is dischanged into the reservoir. Theliquid rcf rigerant is forced into the refrigerating-pipes through asuitable valve, which may be automatic or otherwise, whereby therapidity of the flow is regulated. In the refrigeratingpipes O therefrigerant volatilizes, produeinga reduction of temperature within thepipes and the chamber within which they are placed.

The amount of refrigeration produced by the volatilization of the liquidammonia is greater the more rapid the volatilization. The volatilizationis more rapid as the pressure of the gas within the refrigerating-pipesis reduced. In order, therefore, that the ref rigerating effects of theapparatus shall be substantially equal at all times, I have arranged inconnection with the devices above explained mechanism whereby thepressure of gas within the refrigerating-pipes is automaticallycontrolled by the starting and the stopping of the pumping mechanism. Ihave found that when this pressure is between fifteen and twenty poundsthe results are very satisfactory, and the mechanism which I shallpresently describe is therefore preferably arranged to stop the pumpwhen the pressure falls below fifteen pounds and to start it again whenit is more than twenty pounds; but the mechanism is adapted to beadjusted so that the pump may be stopped and started at anypredetermined degrees of pressure. The mechanism provided for thispurpose consists of an elastic diaphragm so arranged that it will expandand contract under the influence of the gaseous pressure of therefrigeratirig-pipes and dcviees which are operated by the movement ofsaid diapl'iragm, by which the operative coir nection between thepump-operating mechanism and the power-supplying mechanism is made andbroken automatically. The best form of this mechanism which I havedevised is shown in the drawings, and I will now proceed to describe thesame.

\V represents a chamber, consisting of two elastic metallic diaphragms w10, which are bolted together with the metallic ring to be tween themnear their edges. This chamber is connected with the chamber A by thepipe V, so that the pressure within the refrigerating-pipes, the chamberA and the chamber W is the same. The central part of the diaphragm it"rests against the rigid bracket X,

whereby the diaphragm w is ebliged to expand forwardand away from thebracket under the influence of the internal pressure. A lever 1 ispivoted to the top of the casingand a set-screw 2 in the end of thelever 1 abuts against a button soldered or otherwise secured to thediaphragm w, whereby the outward movement of the diaphragm will move thelever 1 in one direction and the spring 3 draws it in the reversedirection when the pressure within the chamber \V is reduced. A lever atis pivoted substantially at right angles to the lever l and has at itsends a roller or polished cylinder 5, which is held against thecylindrical end.6 of the lever 1 bya spring 7. Normallythat is to say,when the machine is at restthe center of the roller 5 is a little abovethe center of the cylindrical end 6 of the lever 1, and thereby servesas a latch to prevent. any movement of said lever 1. When the pressurewithin the chamber A causes the diaphragm w to push the lever 1 outward,the movement thereof will be slow until the bearing-point of said leverpasses a little above the center of rollers 5, when the spring 7suddenlypulls the lever at under the lever 1. This throws the end of thelever 1 outward with a snap, and thereby brings into action themechanism provided to drive the machinery of the pumps. This movement,as before stated, should take place when the pressure within the chamberA is about twenty pounds. A

gage 8 may be attached to the chamber A to show the degree of pressure,and the set-screw 2 may be adjusted so that the above described motionwill take place at any desired pressure.

The mechanism provided for setting the machinery in motion may be someelectrical contrivance, and the movement of the lever 1 may complete theelectrical circuit, as shown in Fig. 6; or the movement of the lever 1may throw clutch mechanism into engagement with a driven loose pulley 9on the shaft 10, as shown in the first four figures.

A clutch of any suitable construction may be employed, and the clutchmaybe operated by the movement of any ordinary shifting sleeve. A bar12, having a depending fork 13, is arrangedto slide parallel to theshaft 10 by being guided upon the caps of the journal-boxes of saidshaft. This bar 12 obviously might be connected with the lever 1, butsolely to increase its movement I add the lever 14, which is pivoted tothe casing A, and link 15, which connects lever 1 and lever 14:- Theother end of the lever 14 is connected by a pin16, operating in a slot17, to the bar 12.

Then the pressure within the chamber A has been sufficiently reduced bythe operation of the pumps, the return movement of lever 1 and theconsequent disengagement of the operating mechanism are produced asfollows: W'hen the diaphragm begins to retract as the pressure withinthe chamber is reduced, the spring 3 draws the lever 1 backward. In thismovement the locking-lever 4:

is forced backward until the centers of the two cylindricalbearing-surfaces 5 and 6 of the two levers pass, when the lever 1 ispulled quickly backward to the position shown in the drawings, and theoperative connection between the machine and the power-supplyingmechanism is broken.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination, with the refrigeratingand condensing pipes or coils,the latter located and arranged within atank, of a chamber with which the refrigerating pipes or coilscommunicate, and a pump or pumps projecting from said chamher into thecooling tank and connected therein with the condensing-coils,substantially as herein shown and described.

2. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination,with the refrigeratingpipes or coils, of a chamber into which said pipes or coils discharge, agas pump or pumps connected with said chamber and projecting into acoolingtank, condensing pipes or coils located and arranged within saidtank and connected with said gas-pump, and a reservoir between therefrigerating and condensing coils, substantially as shown anddescribed.

3. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination,with therefrigerating-pipes, of a chamher into which said pipes discharge, areservoir and a gas-pump between said chamber and reservoir, anoscillating shaft within said chamber, one end thereof having a bearingwithin the chamber, the other end extending through the walls thereofand packed with a flexible packing, which is secured to said shaft andto the wall of the chamber, and suitable connections between said shaftand pumps for operating the latter, substantially as herein set forthandshown.

4. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination, with therefrigerating-pipes, of a reservoir, a pump for pumping the gas from the.pipes for condensing it and forcing it into the said reservoir,suitable mechanism for operating the pump, a chamber connected with theref rigerating-pi pes, a flexible diaphragm arranged within a secondchamber, communicating with the first, and adapted to be operated by thevarying pressure of gas within said first chamber, and a lever adjustably held in engagement with said diaphragm and connected with aclutch mechanism, whereby the movement of said lever is caused toconnect and disconnect the driving mechanism with and from the pump-operatin g mechanism,su.bstantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of therefrigerating-pipes, a chamber into which said pipes discharge, areservoir, a gas-pump by which the gas is pumped out of said chamber,condensed into liquid form, and forced into the reservoir, and mechanismfor operating said gas-pump, with an elastic diaphragm arranged to beoperated upon by the pressure of gas within the refrigeratingpipes, andmechanism operated by the movement of said diaphragm, whereby theoperative connection between the pn mp-ojerating mechanism and thesource of power is automatically made and broken at certainpredetermined pressures within the refrigeratingpipes, substantially asand for the purpose specified.

6. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of therefrigerating-pipes, a chamber into which said pipes discharge, areservoir, and a gas-pump between said chamber and fountain, with anelastic diaphragm arranged to be acted upon by the pressure within saidchamber, a lever having one end made cylindrical, a set-screw in theother end, a spring for holding said set-screw in engagement with saiddiaphragm, a second spring-actuated lever having a curved end whichengages with the curved end of the first-named lever, and mechanismwhereby the operative connection between the pump and the powersnpplyingdevice is made and broken by the movement of the last-mentioned lever,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combi nation of therefrigerating-pipes, a chamber into which said pipes discharge, areservoir, a gas-pump between said chamber and reservoir, a revolvingshaft, suitable connecting mechanism between it and the pump, and aloose revolving pulley on said shaft, with clutch mechanism forconnecting said pulley and shaft, a sliding bar adapted to engage anddisengage said clutch, an elastic diaphragm arranged to be acted upon bythe pressure within said chamber, a lever having one end madecylindrical, a set-screw in the other end, a spring for holding saidset-screwin engagement with said diaphragm, a second springaet uatedlever having a curved end which engages with the eurved end of thetirst-named lever, and suitable mechanism between the second lever andthe slidingbar, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

'WILSON E. FAG ER.

Witnesses:

.T. BURTON PARSONS, WILLIAM J. STARKXVEATHER.

